CLASS NOTES | SPRING 2023 | 73 ’26 Amanda Rowan, abr226@lehigh.edu Coming into Lehigh as a firstyear student, I was a bundle of nerves and excitement. While I was lucky enough to have my big brother, who is currently a senior, in my corner, and I knew I could text him anytime I needed a hug or familiar face, I was still unsure about the adjustment. Despite my friendly and talkative personality, I’m also shy and nervous when meeting new people, and I didn’t know if I would be OK. Through my anxiety entering Lehigh, I quickly understood that I would find my place here. I would find my people, and Bethlehem would be my new home. After one semester completed, not only do I feel more comfortable in myself, but I have found the support I needed. Much of my ease into Lehigh I owe to my freshman roommate. After meeting for the first time in January through mutual friends, we impulsively decided to be roommates. We were able to talk naturally, and we both figured we could get along well. While I didn’t expect us to hate each other, I also didn’t expect to find my best friend. In high school, I always had a solid group of friends. I’d been attached at the hip to my three best friends I had known since sixth grade. I always felt secure in my friendships with them, and while I love my home friends more than anything, I never thought I’d be lucky enough to find another best friend. I never thought I would feel so secure and safe in a friendship with someone I just met. I never thought that Julia would quickly become my sanity. Julia Swill, a girl from Boca Raton, Fla., quickly helped me feel at home. Julia helped to make Lehigh my new home. Though she didn’t know how to deal with the cold or falling of leaves, she knew how to be there for me. She knows how to cheer me up when I’m having a bad day, or just calm me down through unnecessary nerves. Julia listens to me, she takes the time to care about me, and although I’ve only lived with her for a few months, I feel like I’ve known her my whole life. With the transition from sunny Florida to cold Pennsylvania, Julia constantly gets asked, why Lehigh? By now, she has a perfectly perfected script of how to respond. It’s become second nature to her. Julia started attending sleepaway in Pennsylvania when she was 8 years old, and it has been her second home ever since. She’s come back as a camper and counselor and continues to go and spend her summers with her camp best friends. Through camp, she always was meeting people, many of whom attended Lehigh. She knew individuals who went here and loved it and thought maybe she could love it, too. After attending a lacrosse camp at Lehigh and touring the campus, she quickly understood the Lehigh love. Most people ask Julia why she wouldn’t want to stay in the warm weather of Florida, and her answer—“It’s the people.” Even before she came, she knew she could find her people at Lehigh, and while I hope she has found hers, I have found mine in her. So, to Julia Swill, thank you for being my best friend, for calming my nerves and for making me feel at home. And thank you to Lehigh for giving me an unexpected friendship that I will forever cherish. 1940s Edgar F. Whitmore Jr. ’40, Pasadena, Calif., Sept. 14, 2022. Mr. Whitmore was a member of the cross country and swimming teams and a Delta Upsilon brother. He was also a veteran of the Quartermaster Corps during World War II. He started his career in the oil industry before forming E.F. Whitmore & Co., a manufacturers’ representative company for domestic and international chemical companies. His sonin-law, Michael Fekula, is a member of the Class of 1979. Robert O. Davidson ’46, Brockton, Pa., Oct. 6, 2022. Mr. Davidson interrupted his education to serve in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater. He was president of the family business, Mount Carbon Brewery, until its sale to Yuengling. He then owned Schuylkill Masonry Construction. Richard T. Smith ’46 M.S. ’47, San Antonio, Texas, Sept. 10, 2022. Frederick D. Stocker ’47, Chula Vista, Calif., Oct. 3, 2022. Prof. Stocker was a Sigma Chi brother. He was a professor emeritus of economics at The Ohio State University and the former executive director of the National Tax Association. Robert R. Cockley ’48, King of Prussia, Pa., Dec. 10, 2021. Mr. Cockley was a member of the Tower Society. Philip F. Moyer ’49, Vero Beach, Fla., Oct. 27, 2022. Mr. Moyer was an Alpha Sigma Phi brother. 1950s James A. Watson III ’50, Charlottesville, Va., Nov. 3, 2022. Mr. Watson was a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves. He managed and owned Watson Automotive Equipment Company. Gordon Granger ’51, Chatham, N.J., Nov. 28, 2022. A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Granger worked in banking and insurance. Andrew R. Plankenhorn ’51, Decatur, Ga., July 29, 2022. Mr. Plankenhorn made his career with the Atlanta Public Schools. Paul E. Prosswimmer Jr. ’51, Gaithersburg, Md., Oct. 23, 2022. A Sigma Phi Epsilon brother, Mr. Prosswimmer was a sales manager for several companies, including Servo Corp., Boeing and Federal Sources. His son, Paul Prosswimmer III ’79, daughter-in-law, Geralyn (Marotta) Prosswimmer ’80 and grandchildren, Taylor Castagna ’10, Allison Castagna ’10 and Katherine Prosswimmer ’12, are all members of the Lehigh family. Frederick J. Arnold ’52, Upper Gwynedd, Pa., Aug. 30, 2022. A Phi Delta Theta brother and tennis team member, Mr. Arnold was a bond trader and partner in several brokerIN REMEMBRANCE The alumni and university communities extend their sympathy to the families of the alumni listed. Obituary sources include relatives, alumni and friends. Send details to Advancement Services, 306 S. New St., Suite 500, Bethlehem, PA 18015; 1-866-517-1552; askrecords@lehigh.edu. The following were reported to us as of Dec. 31, 2022:
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